“Open up! We’re dying!” This is how 20-30 people who are crammed inside an unbearably hot eight-meter police truck begged for help in Mohamed Diab’s brilliant film Eshtebak [CLASH]. Detainees of all political backgrounds call desperately amongst tear gas, crowds and gunshots. The film will make you go through all of these feelings. It personally made me cry, laugh, and put me at the edge of my seat. The film’s brilliance relies within the fact that it does not cheaply advocate one side over the other. It narrates times of high political tension and conflict back in July 2013 during the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi by the military. It presented all sides, and as the plot progressed, I had failed to keep supporting the characters I just cheered for. In fact, I sympathized and then hated every single character over and over again. The cinematography had a significant role. Using many bright lights and diverse angles in such tiny spaces perfectly conveyed the feeling of claustrophobia and hysteria among protestors. It was so surreal that I could feel the anxiety during the break. Before the movie was released,…
